Yesterday, I mentioned the Habitudes class I am teaching and our first image of the Iceberg. The iceberg teaches you and as I leaders that the most important part of our leadership is what’s below the surface…our character. One of the most interesting parts of our character is our “sense of identity”. Tim Elmore describes this as “a realistic self-image based on who God made you to be.” Leaders with strong character know themselves and embrace their strengths and weaknesses.
Great leaders have learned and live out daily habits that use their strengths and focus less on their weaknesses. Reading books like Now, Discover Your Strengths and StrengthFinders 2.0; along with, listening to other leaders has helped me realize that I need to focus on the strengths God has given me and not try to fix my weaknesses attempting to be “super leader” in every situation and for every purpose.
Chris Hollomon shared this article with me other day by Casey Ross. Man, this post hit home big time! It is a great read on focusing and living out our strengths to benefit the organization we serve and the people we influence. Here is the question that I am asking myself (even printed out real big and put it above my desk):
Where do I add the most value to my organization?
Sometimes, I don’t like the answer to that question. Many times, the answers give me fuel and freedom. Other times, I need teammates to help me see the answer to this question. All the time, when I live this out honestly and trusting in God’s design of me as His servant, I am effective and empowered to be influential.
The reality is all of us will impact at a minimum 10,000 people in our lifetime. Many of you will greatly outpace that number. So, what are the strengths God has given you? Are you focusing on those? How do you add the most value to your organization, relationships, ministry?
Hey Jason! Thanks for the links to my post and to my blog. So glad you found some of this helpful.
You are asking yourself a valuable and tough question…a question I am asking myself daily. I love the reminder of how many people we will influence in our lifetime. None of us is on an island. If we can learn to answer this question, we will take ourselves further and faster and we will help others do the same. Amazing how answering this question, which seems to be all about “me”, will help us influence others.
Great to hear from you Casey. Great insights. I am big fan of how God is using your team to be the Body of Christ and influence the unchurched and the churched. Keep cranking out great material! I love your comment about your title, I have the same thing happen weekly. It has be come a great comedy routine of sorts. I will be sure to keep reading.